Ilu, Hiluo
Ficus ampelas

Family: Moraceae

What it is like

A fig. It is a small evergreen tree. It grows 3-15 m high. The twigs are pale brown and finely rough. They are thin and sometimes hang down. They are hairy. The leafy structure at the base of the leaf is sword shaped and pale brown with a few hairs. The leaf stalk is 3-8 mm long and coarse. The leaves are somewhat rough. They are oblong and taper towards the end. The base of the leaf can be wedge shaped. Sometimes the edges have teeth. The leaves are 5-13 cm long by 2-6 cm wide. The figs are almost without stalks. They are yellowish-red. They occur in pairs in the axils of leaves. They are 0.5-0.8 cm across and slightly rough.

There are about 800-1000 Ficus species. They are mostly in the tropics. There are 120 Ficus species in tropical America.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in the lowlands. In China it grows in broad-leaved evergreen forests at low elevations.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, East Timor, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Taiwan, Timor-Leste

How it is used for food

The leaves are eaten. The ripe fruit are eaten fresh.

In some areas of Papua New Guinea it is a very common fig.

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Fei lu bin rong, Pohon ara ampelas

Synonyms

Ficus ampelas Elmer; Ficus irisana Elmer; Ficus kingiana Hemsley; and others